Republic of Palau Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2014 Koror Rock Island Southern Lagoon Office of the Environment, Response and Coordination (OERC) Republic of Palau 3/31/2014 Executive Summary The Palau Islands, located in Western Micronesia, contain some of the most diverse and pristine ecosystems in the world. These diverse habitats are home to an extraordinarily high number of marine and terrestrial species that are essential to the culture, economy and livelihoods of the Palauan people. Many species and ecosystems are endemic or rare and conserving Palau’s resources is important globally. Palau’s efforts to conserve its biodiversity and manage its natural resources are greatly aided by the fact that there is an enabling environment for biodiversity conservation. Since the drafting of Palau’s NBSAP (2005) almost 10 years ago, biodiversity conservation in general and community‐based conservation activities in particular have grown considerably in Palau. Local communities have designated protected areas throughout the country in order to protect species and sites important to them. The number of these protected areas in Palau has more than doubled in the past 10 years. A national framework for protected areas now exists in Palau: the Palau Protected Areas Network (PAN). PAN’s goal is to provide national level support for protected area management activities at the local level. Protected areas are recognized at the regional and international level through the Micronesia Challenge. Additionally, there are more organizations involved in conservation and resource management than there were 10 years ago. Many of the groups and people working on conservation in Palau recognize the importance of sharing limited human and other resources and often work in collaborative partnerships. Some of these partnerships aim to improve resource management by integrating activities among a variety of organizations. This Fifth National Report describes the existing context of Palau’s biodiversity and outlines the current and proposed actions needed to ensure the successful conservation and management of that biodiversity. PART I: ASSESSING THE STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS OF BIODIVERSITY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN WELL-BEING 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Republic of Palau is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) located in the tropical north Pacific. The main island group lies approximately 800 km north of New Guinea and 800 km east of the Philippines. Only 9 of the more than 340 islands which make up the country are inhabited. The inhabited islands are: Angaur, Babeldaob, Hatohobei, Helen Reef, Kayangel, Koror, Peleliu, Pulo Anna, and Sonsorol. Palau has a total land area of approximately 490 km2, and a total marine area of approximately 616,000 km2. Palau is divided into 16 states, including 10 states on the island of Babeldaob. Babeldaob is the largest island with more than 80% of the total land area of the country. Approximately 70% of the population is concentrated in Koror state and Airai state, which is located at the southern end of Babeldaob. Beginning in the late 19th century, Palau has experienced several waves of foreign political control, most recently as part of the U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands following World War II. The nation gained independence in 1994 after the adoption of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States. The Compact Agreement is a major source of revenue for the national government and also provides for ongoing technical and material assistance throughout the nation. In the years since the creation of the Palau National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the Compact Road, a national highway encircling the island of Babeldaob has been completed. The Compact Road has significantly altered internal travel and opened the way to greater development potential throughout Babeldaob. Following completion of the Compact Road, the national capitol was moved from Koror to Melekeok state on the central eastern coast of Babeldaob in order to encourage development on the big island. In 1998, the Republic of Palau signed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) which was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Article 1 of the UNCBD set forth three objectives of the Convention: The conservation of biodiversity; The sustainable use of its components; and The fair and equitable sharing of benefits of the utilization of genetic resources. Palau completed its first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2004 (NBSAP, 2004). The NBSAP provided a description of the state of biodiversity and its importance to Palau, as well as conditions affecting management of those resources. Following consultations with national, state and local governments, non-government organizations and the private sector, the NBSAP was developed around eight thematic areas. The themes of the NBSAP were intended to provide a focus for plan objectives in order to build capacity, promote sustainable development and improve biodiversity management. The themes of the NBSAP are: 1. Protected/Managed Areas 2. Species Protection 3. Biosecurity – Invasive Species and Biosafety 4. Sharing Benefits of Genetic Resources 5. Sustainable Economic Development 6. Prevent or Minimize Waste 7. Agricultural Biodiversity 8. Mainstreaming of Biodiversity Conservation Actions taken in support of the UNCBD have largely grown out of efforts to strengthen the legislative, regulatory and policy framework protecting Palau’s environment as a whole. The protection of biodiversity has been a valuable motivator for driving the development of more effective resource management tools, as well as a point of engagement for improving public awareness of environmental issues in Palau. In order to build consensus, promote greater strategic coordination, and improve institutional capacity, the national government has continued to work closely with state and local governments, traditional leaders, and civil society, including NGOs and the private sector. In 2010, the initial UNCBD goals were revisited and expanded by the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan. The Aichi Biodiversity Goals are: 1. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society; 2. Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use; 3. Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity; 4. Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services; and 5. Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building. (Aichi, 2010) In response to the shift in focus toward community engagement set forth by the Aichi Goals, the national government began emphasizing state- and community-level conservation actions. As a result of improved institutional capacity built through working toward the initial UNCBD goals, the national government has been able to provide technical support to state agencies and local organizations in planning and implementing community-based initiatives. Lessons learned during the last decade suggest that such community-based initiatives are effective in improving public support for and commitment to conservation goals, ultimately increasing the long-term sustainability of management actions (PCS, 2013). Monitoring and data collection continue to be persistent challenges throughout Palau. As a result, community members’ often extensive anecdotal knowledge of local environmental conditions can be valuable in bridging some information gaps. Including traditional leaders and community organizations in the planning process may also represent an alternative pathway for improving compliance with conservation initiatives by empowering traditional authority. Further, consideration of community economic development objectives is a key component of promoting sustainability and improving buy-in in Palauan communities. 1.1 METHODOLOGY This Biodiversity and Stock Assessment (BSA) was developed following literature review and consultation with local experts and conservation managers during the months of December 2013 and January and February of 2014. Contributors were asked to review the status of biodiversity in Palau, assess the legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks currently in place, and identify gaps or other areas that could be targeted for future action. Information in this BSA is drawn substantially from other state and national assessments, completed conservation action plans and personal correspondence with local subject area experts. 1.2 OVERVIEW OF CURRENT CONDITIONS AFFECTING BIODIVERSITY In the years since the NBSAP was created, Palau has put considerable effort into improving natural resource management at all levels of society, from national legislation to community- driven initiatives. Taking into consideration the limited resources available, these actions have typically been designed to address multiple issues at once. Palau is facing a number of developmental and environmental challenges that are likely to impact biodiversity. The causes of and relationships between these issues are complex, but can generally be grouped into several primary issues: 1. Climate Change 2. Economic Development 3. Population Growth and Urbanization 4. Water Quality and Quantity 5. Conservation and Protection 6. Sustainable Use 7. Cultural Preservation 8. Data Gaps 1.2.1 Climate Change SIDS like Palau are particularly